Training Log Archive: Bash

Ready to race the RockstAR!

I was feeling much too comfortable and healthy indoors so I went for a ride around the Palgrave single track to better enjoy the humidex near 40C and the "moderate" air quality. Some of the weeds in there are over my head now! Mostly I went out to test my AR bike shoes. AdventureDog had chewed off one of the buckles, and 'Bent contacted Pearl Izumi and obtained spare parts to repair the shoe. It worked just fine. I guess we're as ready for RockstAR as we're going to be!
(Bike computer distance)

In case you haven't seen it, 'Bent made a terrific video of the 47 km Cortina Trail race in Italy. Storm plays a starring role in the film, just as he played a major role in helping 'Bent get to the finish line.

Cortina Trail 2016 (1080 version) from Richard Ehrlich on Vimeo.

Here's some of the latest info on what you can and cannot bring into the 4.4 square kilometre event area surrounding the U.S. Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio - the area where protests and other gatherings will take place. The potentially serious consequences of open carrying whole fruit and non-plastic containers are so significant that they will override the individual freedom to choose a nutritious lunch. I would have thought that the only thing that could stop a bad guy with a banana would be a good guy with a banana.

Another 30C day and we didn't get the big storm that was forecast so the grass is crunchy dry again. It's been ages since I've done any Bash 'n' Crash 500 m intervals on our usual rolling trail section in Palgrave West. I've done very little speed work this year so expectations were low.

After a 3 km warm-up, I did the first few intervals at what was supposed to be a 5K race pace. I usually try to do B&C 500s all out but it was sooo hot.
2:37
2:36
2:30

Wow, that's slow. I tried two more intervals where I pushed as hard as I could.
2:24
2:22

Wow, that's slow too. I think my PR on this section of trail was 2:05. Maybe I should make this a regular thing. Not that I have any idea what I'm training for.

'Bent and I are able to do RockstAR now so I wanted to try a 25-ish km bike ride with mixed terrain including some technical riding and short, steep climbs. I haven't done much biking this year but it felt fine. All the hill training has kept my legs working, I guess. I rode across Palgrave to Hwy 50, up to the rail trail, into the Albion Hills single track and home via Duffy's Lane and Palgrave West trails.

I only fell once. I was standing still, having a snack and looking at a big map on a sign. One foot was on the ground and the other was clipped in when I took my hands off the handlebars to check my Ambit. The bike suddenly folded and collapsed toward the side that was clipped in. I went down fast - no time to unclip. It probably looked like I'd passed out! Someone nearby immediately checked whether I was OK. Maybe they thought I was lying on the ground crying but I was actually laughing. Soooo embarrassing.